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Nonpowered dams could be a help in expanding the country's renewable-energy supply, according to a report from the Department of Energy. Of the more than 80,000 nonpowered dams in the country, 54,000 of the largest ones could generate more than 12 gigawatts of electricity. "Adding power to the existing dam structure can often be achieved at lower cost, with less risk, and in a shorter timeframe than development requiring new dam construction," the report notes.

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A Bunge-owned ship with 54,000 metric tons of corn was scheduled to depart Brazil for the US on Monday, according to shipping agents. The sale comes after a record Brazilian corn crop of 84.7 million metric tons, which, along with a stronger dollar, has made Brazilian port corn prices lower than their US counterparts recently, according to AGR Brasil data.

Companies must use green-marketing campaigns to create demand for eco-friendly products, not merely to brag about their achievements, writes John Friedman. That means not simply touting green products' planetary impact, but also explaining how they'll directly benefit customers through cost savings or health benefits.

Some employers are creating eco-friendly benefits packages for their employees, writes James Bolton. To jump on the bandwagon, consider switching to ethically invested pension funds, offering give-as-you-earn philanthropy programs, or promoting commuting by bicycle or fuel-efficient car.

As the construction industry shifts to using green products for a sustainable future, scientists are recreating the most basic materials such as concrete to make that goal a reality. This article notes developments of three innovative building materials: a phase-change material called "bioPCM" gel; Solidia's plastic-based concrete alternative; and Novacem's carbon-negative magnesium oxide-based concrete alternative, which absorbs more carbon from the air during its production process than it releases.